Atlanta United bounced back from an opening-day humiliation in a big way against D.C. United on Sunday.
In front of an MLS single-game record crowd of 72,035, Atlanta cruised past DCU in a 3-1 win at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Gerardo "Tata" Martino's side is expected to be a MLS Cup contender in 2018, but its season started out last weekend with a humbling 4-0 loss at the Houston Dynamo.
But Sunday never looked like it would be a repeat of last weekend, and Josef Martinez opening the scoring 24 minutes in from a Hector Villalba assist.
.@JosefMartinez17! @ATLUTD strikes first and it is LOUD. That's his 20th career MLS goal. #ATLvDC https://t.co/KjpFUmrbRn
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 11, 2018
Atlanta killed off the game with a quick pair of goals in the second half.
Miguel Almiron rifled a shot into the top corner in the 73rd minute, before Villalba notched a goal of his own with a looping header two minutes later.
You know he wanted one of his own. Miguel Almirón makes it 2-0 for @ATLUTD! #ATLvDC https://t.co/QfemtA2g9n
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 11, 2018
Two goals in two minutes! They're fired up in Atlanta. #ATLvDC https://t.co/EQ2WZZnyiX
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 11, 2018
The visitors would get a consolation through Darren Mattocks late, but Martino's men wouldn't be denied a first win of 2018.
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